David Honeyford
Lagan Valley · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“Ten years ago, the UK voted to leave the EU, and Northern Ireland was removed from the EU against its will. People will have voted for many reasons, but people were lied to.”
“Many families have spent the past decade worse off, and the loudest supporters of Brexit have punished them, while we have the likes of Farage appearing to be prospering personally. <BR /> <BR />Ten years on, the question is not whether Brexit was right or wrong, because the evidence is clear for everyone to see.”
“<BR /> <BR />The biggest cost of Brexit has been instability, which scares off investment. Since the Brexit referendum, the UK has had seven Prime Ministers, and we have had the Assembly collapse twice. Political uncertainty has become normal. However, when politics becomes unstable, ordinary people pay the price.”
“We need to see more happening, because east-west collaboration is already happening. We need more collaboration to grow our economy further, but talk is cheap. People say such lines on the news but then come to the Chamber and vote against collaboration.”
“Two and a half years into the term of this Executive, much of that remains missing. The same applies to waste water infrastructure and planning reform, with delays continuing to block growth and investment. We should do much more to collaborate North/South, as we do east-west, to improve people's lives.”
“The Executive are failing to provide certainty and follow-up on their commitments. My colleague Andrew Muir having had his green growth strategy blocked for over a year is just one example.”
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“Will the Minister outline the importance of ensuring animal traceability?”
“Thank you for giving way. My point is about the strategy. The South has a manufacturing strategy. The four pillars that you mentioned, including regional balance and achieving net zero, all feed into that. When you look at the South's manufacturing strategy, 85% of the jobs that it generates are naturally located outside Dublin. We are looking for that kind of strategy to give us focus and direction.”
“My question to the Minister is this: will she move on the issue and bring forward an outward vision for our economy that specifically targets green technologies, innovation and the manufacturing base, increases our exports and helps to develop and advance manufacturing, of which hydrogen is a part, to take advantage of UK and EU market access? We need such a vision to grow our economy; create opportunities; provide highly skilled jobs in our constituencies; and increase the wage base for Northern Ireland so that everybody from every background — from working class to middle class to everybody else — sees an increase in wages that will, ultimately, bring growth to our economy.”
“<BR /> <BR />When we, unfortunately, left the EU, we lost three fundamental freedoms. The only advantage that we have left lies with products. Therefore, we need to manufacture more products to realise that benefit and to export and achieve growth. The motion talks about the need for a strategy for hydrogen and innovation, but we do not seem to have a strategy or vision for export more widely. Neither do we have an advanced manufacturing strategy that would help to grow the region's economy and give us products to export. Alliance has called for that continually, and I will continue to push it. <BR /> <BR />I have said many times in the Chamber that it is our job to create the platform for others to flourish and the conditions for our economy to grow.”
“When economic figures were released just a few weeks ago, they, yet again, showed a poor economic growth pattern for Northern Ireland. At best, it could be described as resilient, given that the rest of the UK is contracting, but business activity in Northern Ireland is declining, and that is really worrying. We need to focus on trying to move that forward and pushing that dial. Hydrogen, green technologies and advanced manufacturing would be a great place to start focusing outwards to bring investment and growth here. We have all the talent in the world: we have an entrepreneurial base, a highly skilled workforce and, importantly, market access. However, it seems that we focus on ourselves rather than focusing outwards to seize the opportunities and potential.”
“We need to use that to rebalance our economy across the island and between these islands, creating the conditions that will grow local business, attract investment, create jobs and build wealth. That should be the focus.”
“Cheers. Thank you. <BR /> <BR />Thanks for clarifying that. The unfortunate bit is that, as we talk about innovation and, effectively, advanced manufacturing, the basic denial from the DUP — it remains in complete denial — about the advantage of dual market access is still stark. Hydrogen and advanced manufacturing are exactly the kinds of industries where we can take advantage of having access to both the UK and the EU markets. The innovation is also for us to help ourselves, but it should be an export. That is where our advantage is, and we should seize it. Our focus should be on taking advantage while this region has a window of opportunity for export to the UK, to Ireland and to Europe. We have an advantage over everyone for the betterment of everyone here.”
“Nonetheless, our business leaders and companies, large and small, should be massively congratulated for the leadership that they have shown to date and for the jobs that they have created. They have simply got on with it, making the best of what can be done within the current framework. It is slightly disappointing that the author — Jonny went into it a little bit — focused on one market and the hydrogen hub in the UK, rather than casting our ambitions and our vision far and wide and looking at being world leaders on this rather than just in one market. As I said yesterday, if there is any chance that we can get past the basic identity politics and work for better conditions for everyone here, that would be welcomed.”
“I also support the motion. From the start, we should get one thing clear: the success that we are having in this area is despite the Assembly and not because of decisions that have been made in this mandate or by any previous Minister. That fact is a disgrace. Businesses have been left to get on with it when the Assembly has been collapsed for much of the time, unable to create the conditions in which business can thrive, grow and invest. Unfortunately, when the Assembly has been working, we still have not seen anything close to enough movement to enable and create better conditions for business to thrive. <BR /> <BR />It also has to be acknowledged from the start that our economy remains a million miles away from that of the South and that of the wider UK.”
“An operational issue? Right, OK. Was the council team wrong, then? Either the council team was on a solo run and does not have a policy or the Assembly team is making one up on the hoof with the mini-motions that it tables here. We all want to see renewables being brought forward, but we have to get serious. The industry needs time and the confidence that we will deliver. I will leave it there.”
“In front of the cameras in the Chamber, for everyone to see, the SDLP raises concerns about the rates of growth in renewables and what the Executive parties are doing about it, but it opposes it in the place where it is not in opposition and where it controls planning policy. I will give way to any SDLP Member who wants to explain how it is that they say one thing in here but something different in the place where the planning conditions are upheld.”
“<BR /> <BR />The SDLP motion states that ineffective planning policy is a significant barrier to renewables expansion. I completely agree with that. I agree with every word that has been said. Sinéad talked about leadership being missing and calls being ignored. The SDLP has repeated in the House that it is a serious Opposition, yet, with the support of Sinn Féin, it recently voted against renewables in Derry City and Strabane District Council, the very place that planning controls are upheld. <BR /> <BR />The motion that the SDLP supported stated that the council "reaffirms its presumption against" wind farms and, therefore, against renewables.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is massively disappointing that the Department for the Economy has recently worked on a scheme that limits our potential and is using the prospect of further delays as a reason not to amend it. If that is the case, there must, as a bare minimum, be a commitment from the Minister for a lower rate in the second round of auction in 2027 that is equal to that in the South. Given the ridiculous amount of time that planning takes, which the motion highlights, that would at least give hope and long-term certainty to businesses and investors. I have been contacted directly by several companies, one of which is in my area, that are about to draw a line through Northern Ireland and put their investment into the South and Scotland.”
“I question why a Sinn Féin Minister's Department is bringing forward legislation for a renewables scheme in Northern Ireland that will not be applied equally on an all-island basis. The creation of different entry-level conditions for investment will result in an investment border between Northern Ireland and the South. That will, effectively, create a barrier to and a restriction on investment in Northern Ireland and push further investment south. I have raised that matter so many times and I will continue to highlight it. Any new scheme must have an entry point that is equal to that in the South. We continue to see investment moving there: we need investment here and the entry point has to be the same. The experience in the South has shown that that difference will limit investment here by up to 50%.”
“The motion is only words on a page if the North/South interconnector is not included in it. As it is not included in the DUP amendment and the amendments are mutually exclusive, we will oppose the DUP amendment. <BR /> <BR />The Department is bringing forward a new renewable scheme. In its current form — or, what we have been briefed is its current form — the scheme will fail to deliver on our potential and will not accelerate our capacity to meet the "80 by 30" target either. Sinn Féin talks a lot about unity and a DUP motion tomorrow will focus on the United Kingdom. We have consistently said that Alliance will focus on the best outcomes for people and look at actions not words. We already have an all-island energy system.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I have spoken many times in the Chamber on Alliance's position on renewables. As this is an SDLP mini-motion and time is limited, I will pick up on just a couple of issues. <BR /> <BR />Alliance submitted its amendment in order to enhance the motion. Very simply, the "80 by 30" target cannot be achieved without the North/South interconnector. Unfortunately, EirGrid recently stated that the completion date for that has been pushed back to 2031. SONI estimates the cost to consumers in Northern Ireland of not having the North/South interconnector in place and in use to be £55,000 a day. That means that the cost to the person in the street is approximately £100 annually. The acceleration of the North/South interconnector is fundamental if we are to meet our targets.”
“What action has been taken to support victims and witnesses during the withdrawal of services?”
“Enjoy the celebrations. I know that quite a few of the team are going on to professional sport, but I hope that those who are not will get involved in their local clubs and enjoy sport in the community. <BR /> <BR />I also want to point out that over half that team play for Dromara Gaelic Athletic Club in Down. It is fantastic that we are starting to see the breakdown of barriers and our community being brought together. Having a Down player on that team and having those changes are brilliant to see in Lagan Valley. <BR /> <BR />Finally, I give a shout-out to Danske Bank. Danske has supported youth and school sport for many years. We appreciate the finance that goes into sport to allow all those things to happen.”
“<BR /> <BR />Such wins are delivered by a team or a squad over 70 minutes, but there is much more to that squad of players than who is on the pitch. A shout-out has to go to all the parents. I have been that rugby dad, and I know about the journeying, driving around and taxiing every morning and afternoon. The parents deserve a lot of credit as well. There is the coaching staff, and Derek Suffern has been mentioned. He has been there for quite a while and has worked away for years. Successes such as this do not happen in one season; they are built over many years. I pass my congratulations on to the coaching team at Wallace. Deborah O'Hare is the principal, and this is her final year, so what an achievement this is for her as she retires and moves on. I am delighted for her. <BR /> <BR />Well done Wallace, Lisburn and the wider area.”
“I echo the comments that have already been made about the success of Lucy Best and Caolan McConville at the Special Olympics World Winter Games. I was at the launch several months ago at the slopes in Craigavon. That day was full of excitement, and it was fantastic to see. What a journey they have been on. <BR /> <BR />I also congratulate your old school, Mr Speaker. I salute Wallace High School's success in finally winning the Schools' Cup yesterday for the first time. It is such a fantastic achievement for the boys, and it was an absolute pleasure to be there yesterday to cheer on the school and watch the kids of friends of mine play and excel on that team. That is really well done, and I pass on my congratulations to everyone who was there.”
“I welcome the Minister to her place. We all have examples of this. In Lagan Valley, residents of the Ayrshire development have lived in their homes for years, yet DFI has reported recently that technical designs were not even done or submitted. Residents have been left frustrated and living with unfinished roads. Will any new guidance be applied retrospectively? If not, why not? Surely DFI has to be way stronger from the start, before houses are even occupied.”
“Not the Minister, the Chair. One day, though: I talk as a prophet. I cannot agree with it. I will give two examples. Coca-Cola has invested in my area. It has 450 jobs and, with dual market access, has just created another 90 jobs because Monster Energy has just brought its energy drinks to Lisburn. The whole factory would have gone South without dual market access. Monster Energy has just invested in Lisburn, and all of the drinks are manufactured there. PRM is another example of a company that is benefiting from dual market access and about to triple the size of its place in Lisburn. There are two examples of what you were asking for.”
“No, because I have already given way, and I am running out of time. <BR /> <BR />That is one practical opportunity that could realise potential in the area. The other side of that — I commend the Member for moving the motion and talking about it — is that her party's councillors are opposing it on the council. On one hand, SDLP Assembly Members are bringing forward renewable energy as a campaign and wanting more — I want more — but, on the other hand, the party's councillors are sitting in the council chambers, where they are not the Opposition, and opposing more renewable energy in the area. You cannot talk out of both sides of your mouth. We need to start getting real, as political parties, to deliver change. <BR /> <BR />I cannot agree with the amendment that the Minister —”
“<BR /> <BR />It is Opposition day, and the SDLP continually goes on about being a constructive Opposition. I completely agree that there are significant opportunities, and the Member named renewable energy as one. Unfortunately, there are two barriers to that. Neither is tackled, but we need to tackle them. One is grid development, which I have just referenced. We need a plan. There needs to be legislation North and South to allow the connection of wind farms or solar at the quickest and easiest point. The motion is words on a page, but, if EirGrid's grid stops at Sligo or south Donegal and cannot develop any further north without grid connection and we have a grid connection in Derry, surely we should be able to work together to connect and work as a partnership from which everybody will benefit.”
“We sit on the Belfast-Dublin economic corridor: if Invest does not focus on my area, we will not see the benefit of that. The investment will go elsewhere, predominantly to the South. We cannot ignore the facts. Northern Ireland is such a small region. I totally agree that we should focus on the north-west and Derry, but we should focus equally on other places such as the Causeway coast. <BR /> <BR />Just as councils have a local development plan, we need a master plan from this place to map out and show where the regions are. The Member talked about fintech and renewables in Derry, and it is the same in Belfast. We also need a map for grid connections and strategic economic zones. We need to know what is happening in Fermanagh. We need a road map and a strategic plan from the Assembly or from the Department for the Economy to show that.”
“Thank you, Deputy Speaker. <BR /> <BR />I am not saying that we do not need interventions; I am just saying that there are other areas. You have brought me on to that subject. Look at the deprivation rates of north Belfast or west Belfast. Those areas have some of the lowest incomes, as have the Causeway Coast and Glens area or Newry, Mourne and Down. All I am saying is that there are other areas. The problem is not specific to Derry. <BR /> <BR />My constituency of Lagan Valley has the highest house prices and the highest disposable income but the lowest job availability in the area, and Invest NI has no capability to bring employment to it. We are restricting jobs in my area for the people who live there. Everywhere has problems; I do not deny that.”
“The SDLP is becoming more solely focused on the north-west and seems to be nowhere near as interested in its other Members' constituencies, never mind those of the rest of us. We need a joint task force approach across Northern Ireland and not exclusively for the north-west, but I agree that the north-west is an important part of the total. We all need to see the potential realised. That means working on a shared island basis, building reconciliation as part of a much wider remit.”
“I am happy to support the motion. As Kate said, some of the work is already happening. Last month, I clearly laid out Alliance's position on a shared island, which is about working practically to build and share reconciliation here and across the island. That is our focus. I stated that Alliance wanted to see a shared island approach on key issues that affect us, and our economy is one of those. As an Assembly, we need more detail to enable progress to be made. <BR /> <BR />I will talk through the motion. Sinéad's commitment to her area is absolutely commendable. She talks about regional balance as code for Derry at every Committee meeting. She champions her area, and I commend her for doing so, but we have called for the same collaborative approach to be taken across Northern Ireland.”
“If we do not address the planning system and tackle waste water infrastructure, economic investment will continue to move to the South, as that infrastructure is unavailable here. That is essential to unlocking our economic growth. It is time to work to create conditions in which our businesses and our economy can flourish and grow. <BR /> <BR />I support the overall economic aims of the Programme for Government, but potential alone is not enough to make a difference. As Alliance spokesperson for the economy, I look forward to working with the Minister for the Economy and other Ministers to deliver for our constituents. I look forward to seeing legislation coming through to help deliver that.”
“If our universities do not get investment for R&D, we will not have spin-off companies such as B-Secur, which has 57 highly skilled jobs and which developed the intellectual property for heart monitors in watches and other devices, in Belfast in the future. Also, childcare is not just a social good; it is an economic lever. Parents cannot work if childcare is unaffordable or inaccessible. That needs to be expanded on further, although I appreciate that the First Minister developed it a little bit earlier. On planning reform, we all know that the current system is a bottleneck, holding back housing, infrastructure and business investment. The Alliance Party has been consistent on those three points, but our economy needs specifics and action on planning reform to come through quickly.”
“rather than a statement about the trade advantage that we have with our dual market access. It is baffling that we do not lead with that, shouting about it from every platform. The Programme for Government barely mentions it. If we do not champion that dual market access, we will not gain from it. It is as simple as that. <BR /> <BR />I will touch, finally, on three areas that are critical to growing jobs and our economy and on which we look forward to clarity coming through. Research and development is the engine of innovation. Why should businesses come here if we are not prepared to invest in it, creating opportunities for ourselves?”
“<BR /> <BR />Our unique selling point for inward investment is as a place that has access to both GB and EU markets for doing business. We need to sell that dual market access around the world. It is welcome that there is a commitment in the Programme for Government that Invest NI will undertake three promotional trips for investors. If, however, an investor simply goes to Invest NI's home page and clicks on "Why choose Northern Ireland?", the next page leads with the statement:”
“There is so much untapped potential there, staring us in the face, to work together to maximise economic growth. I look forward to working with the Minister to deliver positive outcomes on that. <BR /> <BR />Another issue that we need to move on — it is disappointing that this is not mentioned in the PFG — is the Maze/Long Kesh site. We have momentum, and we need it. We do not need more delay. Developing the road infrastructure around that site and linking it to the M1/A1 is a vital way of improving the access and starting to build momentum for that site. I hope that the First Minister and deputy First Minister can agree to move on that as soon as possible. Maybe they can update us on that in the winding-up speech.”
“Renewable energy growth has stalled at approximately 45%. If we do not have a renewable energy support scheme that supports the ambition of "80 by 30", we will not see the growth that we need. When we have one energy system across the island, any scheme must match the entry levels in the South. It has to be based on encouraging our local renewable companies to grow and not creating further barriers for them. Without that, investment will continue to simply move to the South or to Scotland, where conditions are easier and support is better. <BR /> <BR />From a Lagan Valley perspective, there is a lot of potential to grow jobs in the Dublin-Belfast economic corridor. There was a conference on that last week, which was really welcome.”
“I will move on to speak about the decarbonisation of our economy, which is one of the Minister’s core principles. I completely agree with the principle, but we need much more than just principle: if things are to change, we need delivery, and the devil will be in the detail. We hear a lot about "80 by 30", but it is not just a slogan; it is about having 80% renewable energy by 2030. That is only five years away, and we have been here for a year. We need to get moving if we are to bring all the benefits: not just environmental benefits but energy security and reduced costs for every household. We have the ability to generate home-grown electricity so that we never have the massive increased cost of electricity, caused by the cost of fossil fuel imports, that all our constituents have had to suffer from in the past couple of years.”
“While I share that ambition for the creation of good jobs, Northern Ireland will continue to struggle to attract inward investment without political stability and political direction to create the conditions on which business can be built. Businesses, whether local start-ups, indigenous businesses or international firms looking to invest here, all need certainty. Yet, by not confronting reform head-on, we continue to dangle potential instability. We need political reform not as some abstract ideal but as a practical necessity to unlock potential, which is the bedrock, along with stability, for us to grow our economy.”
“I speak as the Alliance spokesperson for the economy and welcome the fact that we have a Programme for Government that seeks to show a path forward that is positive and much-needed. However, any programme is only as good as the ambition and the focus on delivery. We now need to get on with delivering for our economy. It is on that detail that I want to raise a couple of points. <BR /> <BR />The fundamental truth is that our economy is not growing at any acceptable pace, and that has been an issue for decades. We are not closing the gap between here and GB, and the gap continues to widen between here and the South. We need to address the fundamental reason why that is the case. I appreciate that the Minister has launched an economic vision that intends to bring through good jobs, decarbonisation and productivity, for example.”
“I thank the Minister for a really detailed response. With regard to the consultations, will you give an update on how stakeholder engagement is happening on the issue?”
“What is the impact of high levels of nutrients on our local environment, Minister?”
“To give our skilled workforce opportunity for employment, we need growth in the wider industry. With our grid not being capable of taking about 40% of renewable energy, which is dumped at sea, will the Minister outline any expansion of or investment in our electricity grid that will allow those jobs to come through?”
“We need movement on expanding our grid, alongside support for renewable energy, to happen at a much faster pace so that achieving the "80 by 30 target" for renewables is not just a headline but a reality.”
“Ultimately, doing so will protect our residents from volatile global energy prices by giving more stability to electricity costs. Energy security is vital, and we have felt the cost of relying on fossil-fuel imports. The cost of energy affects every household every week and month. Since 2021, the average price that a household pays in energy has more than doubled. Little has changed in the past year. Alliance wants to see the potential of being self-sufficient in energy realised through delivery, innovation and investment and this region being boosted as a green-energy hub, which will bring lower prices for every household. The Assembly and the Department for the Economy need to deliver in this mandate.”
“The growth of renewable energy offers several significant benefits for residents and environmental and economic advantages. At the weekend, however, we saw reports that, again, exposed the slow pace of change, which is made worse by renewable energy being continually wasted because it is not able to access our grid. It is outrageous that almost 40% of renewable energy is effectively dumped in the sea, four times the figure for the South. The inefficiency of that 40% loss has to be built into the cost of future connections and tenders, and that keeps the price higher than it should be. <BR /> <BR />We live on an island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. We need to have a much greater focus and to work much faster on becoming self-sufficient in energy.”
“That is no problem, thank you. I appreciate that the Minister is not long in office. I recently met officials from his Department to feed back some information from my constituency of Lagan Valley, where constituents have no voice on the matter and some of whom cannot sell houses. If the Minister can give his commitment to look at this, the work that, I hope, is already happening in the Department can perhaps be implemented within this mandate.”
“Will there be equal funding? How will that be accessed? Will it be used like the British Business Bank? Will a company approach GB Energy and use it as a fund? Are we ruling out state-owned infrastructure in Northern Ireland? That is all unclear. I look forward to seeing the detail coming through. I am happy to support the LCM and, indeed, anything that will bring our renewables further on and move this place forward so that we get delivery.”
“The Secretary of State was in Lisburn only a matter of weeks ago, and I discussed it with him then. There was little information or detail then — in fact, there was none — on how it will work. It is another example in which we feel a bit like we are an afterthought: the main focus has been on GB, obviously, and then there has been a realisation that our energy system is not connected. There is a concern about the outworkings here, because we are not connected to the GB infrastructure. Maybe the Minister will elaborate on that. <BR /> <BR />She laid out a bit more information, which I appreciate, but I am thinking about what we can achieve as we move towards the 80% by 2030 deadline. How can we use GB Energy to deliver for people here? Maybe the Minister can confirm whether there will be a Barnett consequential.”
“Alliance supports the transition towards renewable energy. We absolutely want to see that happen at a much faster pace, and we want to see the energy security and all the benefits that come with that, not to mention cleaner air and a cleaner environment. Anything that we can do to progress our journey to net zero is to be welcomed. Growth in renewables has stalled in the past while. We are still sitting at under 50%. We had a quick upward trajectory, but, unfortunately, that has stalled. With the deadline of 2030 to achieve 80% quickly approaching, we need to be doing all that we can to progress that, so I am happy to support the LCM and progress it at this stage. However, I want to flag up the fact that we are seriously lacking detail on the outworkings in Northern Ireland. I have raised that issue at every level, including at Committee.”
“<BR /> <BR />I ask the Minister for the Economy to move on that issue by bringing forward an outward-focused vision for the economy that targets innovation and grows our manufacturing base. We need that in order to increase exports and develop advanced manufacturing across all sectors, to take advantage of dual market access, to grow our economy, to seize opportunities and to provide highly skilled jobs and increased wages in Northern Ireland, thereby bringing growth back to our economy.”
“The only advantage left for us is in products: we have the ability to export without barriers to either market. The Department does not, however, seem to have a focused vision on bringing forward a manufacturing strategy to grow that part of the economy, giving us more products to export. I have said many times in the Chamber that it is our job to create the platform on which others can flourish, creating the conditions for our economy to grow. The Minister's economic vision listed multiple key industries, but should we not prioritise one, two or three of those in which we have an advantage and drive for growth in them? I call for a definite focus on innovation and advanced manufacturing.”
“We hear a lot about dual market access and the advantages that this region has over other parts of the UK and Ireland. New figures released today show that our economic growth is at least resilient, whereas the rest of the UK is contracting. Worryingly, however, business activity is declining. Unfortunately, we do not see a lot of movement from the Department for the Economy to seize the opportunities that dual market access brings. We have all the talent in the world, an entrepreneurial base, a highly skilled workforce and market access, yet the focus seems to be on ourselves rather than on turning outwards to seize the opportunities and use the potential that we have. <BR /> <BR />When, unfortunately, we left the EU, we lost three fundamental freedoms.”